Ayrton Senna and the Estoril Circuit

For many, Ayrton Senna remains the greatest Formula 1 driver of all time, and his story is closely bound to the Estoril Circuit. First, however, it is worth tracing the events that brought him to shine on Portugal’s biggest motorsport stage.

Born in São Paulo, Brazil, on 21 March 1960, Ayrton Senna showed his ability from an early age.

Ayrton Senna’s early karting success

At the age of four, he first demonstrated his natural talent at the wheel of a kart powered by a lawnmower engine. He began competing officially when he was 13, although he frequently had to settle for second place.

His persistence paid off in 1977, when he claimed his 1st-place finish and went on to win the South American Kart Championship. He repeated the achievement in 1978 and 1980.

Hard-working and always focused on the top spot, Ayrton Senna never abandoned his ambition of becoming number 1. After so many victories, the next move was clear: competing in Europe’s leading championships.

Ayrton Senna arrives in Europe

In 1981, he started racing in Europe and won the British Formula Ford 1600 championship, taking victory in 12 of 20 races. The following year, 1982, he became European Formula Ford 2000 champion after winning 22 of the 27 races.

This progress did not go unnoticed. In 1983, Senna won the British Formula 3 championship with Dick Bennetts’ team, securing 13 victories, nine of them in succession. The season was defined by his controversial battle with Martin Brundle, who raced for Eddie Jordan’s team.

Later that same year, he won the prestigious Macau Grand Prix with Teddy Yip’s Theodore Racing Team, as Formula 3 appeared at the event for the first time.

1984: Senna in Formula 1

Senna entered Formula 1 in 1984, driving a single-seater for the British Toleman team. At the 1984 Monaco Grand Prix, he caught the attention of every team with a masterful performance in a thoroughly outdated car.

Ayrton Senna took his first Grand Prix win in his second season, in 1985. It was at the Portuguese Grand Prix that the Brazilian driver began a run of victories.

Ayrton Senna’s 1985 Portuguese Grand Prix victory

The race would become a historic driving masterclass. Torrential rain fell over Sintra as Ayrton Senna lined up in his Lotus-Renault, certain that victory was not simply possible but inevitable. Before the first lap was over, Senna had already taken the lead.

His ability defies description; words alone cannot do justice to his driving.

Follow the link for a short review of the 1985 Portuguese Grand Prix, featuring Senna’s comments on the race.

“On the final lap, I undid my seat belt because I was so eager to stand up and celebrate my first F1 victory.”

• Ayrton Senna, Estoril Circuit, 1985.